Government reveals which apps and websites won't be subject to age ban
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More news: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Anika Wells have outlined the kinds of social media which will be exempt from its proposed age ban, including online gaming, messaging, education and health applications.
Appearing in the Prime Minister’s courtyard in Parliament House, Albanese and Wells announced the government would be tabling rules today specifying the types of online services captured in its “world-leading laws”. It follows the announcement overnight that YouTube would be a part of its under-16s ban on social media sites in response to advice from the eSafety Commissioner.
Wells said that, in response to the advice, the online safety rules tabled today specify which types of online services will not be captured by the social media law, including online gaming, messaging, education and health apps.
“These types of online services have been excluded from the minimum age obligations because they pose fewer social media harms to under-16s,” Wells said.
“All services that meet the definition of age restricted social media platform and are not specifically excluded in the rules will be subject to the social media minimum age law. This includes Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter, X and YouTube amongst others," she said.
“We are implementing these rules and this law on behalf of parents who want and deserve better protections for their kids online. We want kids to know who they are before platforms assume who they are.”
Albanese said: “We want Australian parents and families to know that we have got your back. We know this is not the only solution and there's more to do. But it will make a difference.”
YouTube to be captured by Labor’s refreshed social media ban for kids
The news: YouTube will be captured by world-first social media age restrictions set to take effect in Australia later this year, as part of a reversal of previous commitments to award the platform an exemption.
The context: Communications Minister Anika Wells announced the decision to withdraw the Google-owned platform’s exemption on Tuesday night, after Australia’s online safety regulator urged the change in a letter to the minister last month.
The social media age restrictions will come into effect in December, with companies to be fined up to $50 million if they do not take reasonable steps to prevent children under 16 years of age from repeatedly accessing their social media platforms.
YouTube will now be captured by the regulation, along with Meta’s Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and X.
The decision was set to be announced in the first two sitting weeks after the May election, Capital Brief reported last week, and marks a reversal of earlier commitments made by former Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.
The company has since threatened to consider legal action in the event the government walks back the exemption as promised.
In heavily anticipated online safety rules tabled on Tuesday, the Albanese government said that online gaming, messaging apps, health and education services are set to receive exemptions from the regulation. It will kick in on 10 December.
What they said: “Social media has a social responsibility and there is no doubt that Australian kids are being negatively impacted by online platforms so I'm calling time on it,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement.
“Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs.”
In a statement, Wells said the government aims to give kids reprieve from the “persuasive pull of social media” and to give parents peace of mind.
“We want kids to know who they are before platforms assume who they are,” Wells said.
“There is no one perfect solution when it comes to keeping young Australians safer online — but the social media minimum age will make a significantly positive difference to their wellbeing.”
The source: Albanese government media release
